The Netflix documentary Queen of Chess, directed by Rory Kennedy, chronicles the life and career of Hungarian chess prodigy Judit Polgár. It highlights her groundbreaking achievements in a male-dominated sport and begins streaming on February 6, 2026. The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2026.
Judit Polgár, born on July 23, 1976, in Budapest, Hungary, was raised by her father László, an educational psychologist who homeschooled her and sisters Susan and Sofia with a focus on chess to prove early specialization leads to exceptional achievement. The family faced opposition from the Hungarian government and chess federation, including revoked passports, for insisting the girls compete against boys. Despite this, Polgár emerged as a prodigy, ranking among the top 100 players worldwide by age 12.
At 15, Polgár became the youngest grandmaster in history, surpassing Bobby Fischer's record, by achieving a 2,500 rating and completing required norms set by the International Chess Federation. Over her career, she defeated 11 current or former world champions in classical or rapid chess. The documentary centers on her rivalry with Garry Kasparov, whom she viewed as a key obstacle since age 13. Their first match in Linares, Spain, sparked controversy when Kasparov attempted to change a move, but officials ruled in his favor. Kasparov had called Polgár a 'circus puppet' and made disparaging remarks about female players. In 2002, at age 24, Polgár defeated him after 42 moves in a 'match of the new century' event, calling it 'one of the most remarkable moments of my career.'
Polgár held the No. 1 female ranking for 26 years and 28 days, earning a Guinness World Record in 2015. She retired from competitive play in August 2014 after helping Hungary secure a silver medal at the Chess Olympiad in Tromsø, Norway—its best in 12 years. Now 49, she commentates at tournaments, authored the Teaching Chess trilogy, and runs the Judit Polgár Method to teach children. Married to veterinary surgeon Gusztav Font since 2000, they have son Oliver (born 2004) and daughter Hanna (born 2006). In a 2012 Independent interview, Polgár addressed family demands, countering Kasparov's claim that women are distracted by babies: 'That was not nice—you don’t want your babies to suffer emotionally. But I did it.'
Director Rory Kennedy, inspired by Polgár's story amid Hungary's Communist regime, aimed for an 'exciting sports film' following Netflix's success with The Queen's Gambit. The 93-minute film includes interviews and family scenes, showcasing Polgár's trailblazing role in dispelling stereotypes about women in chess.
